Automatic cigarette paper splicer



May 14, 1963 Filed June 14, 1961 fig.2

M. E. PHILLIPS, JR, ETAL AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE PAPER SPLICER 4Sheets-Sheet 2 fig.3

fig.6

May 14; 1963 M. E. PHILLIPS, JR, El'AL 3,

AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE PAPER SPLICER Filed June 14, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3ATTORNEY y 1963 M. E. PHILLIPS, JR., ETA]. 3,089,661

AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE PAPER SPLICER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 1961fig.9

ATTORNEY States Patent 3,089,661 Patented May 14., 1963 This inventionrelates to a paper 'web splicing method and mechanism with particularemphasis upon satisfying the requirements of cigarette making machinesof the continuous rod type. It is advantageous in a machine of this kindto splice the leading end of a web from a fresh reel onto the trailingend of the web from an expiring reel without stopping or slowing downthe cigarette making machine.

The invention has for its principal object the provision of a simple,compact, fast acting and efiicient method and splicer which, while ofbroader utility, is especially suitable for use in cigarette machines.

Cigarette paper is soft and compressible enough so that superposed webscan be dependably united by the simple expedient of pressing amultiplicity of minute areas of the webs together under strong pressure.If accelerated evenly and not too fast, -a reel can be pulled quickly upto operating speed without exposing the web to rupturing tension;

It is a feature of the invention that the web from the fresh reel,threaded into position to confront the active web, is pulled underlimited tension up to the speed of the active web, and is then, withthewebs traveling in near unison, automatically united with the activeweb by the mere application of rolling pressure. I

It is a further feature that the leading end of the fresh web which hasbeen used up in drawing the fresh web reel upto speed, and the unusedtrailing end of the expiring 'web'are automatically cut off immediatelyadjacent the joint formed .by the webs so that alldangerof their foulingthe cigarette making mechanism is avoided; p

It, is a further'sig'nificant feature that, two stationary reel mountsare provided, and that splicing and trimming mechanisms are so contrivedthat the speed-up and splice can be effected with equal facility andefliciency regardless of which mount carries the expiring web and-whichthe freshweb. I

Other objects and features of the invention will ap' pear as thedescription of the particular embodiment selected to illustrate theinvention progresses. In the accompanying-drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, like characters of reference have been applied tocorresponding parts throughout the several views which make up thedrawings.

In the drawings whichforrn part of this specification,-

FIGURE .1 is a view in side elevation of aportion of a cigarette makingmachine which has incorporated in it novel speed-up, splicing andtrimming mechanism illustrative of the invention; v Y

' FIGURE 2 is a detailv view in side elevation of cut-off knives for theexpiringweb and the control means therev p FIGURE 3 is a fragmentarydetail view in side elevation showing the splicing sectors in operation;and FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are sequence diagrammatic views of the splicingand trimming unit showing how the webs are-united to one another andthen have their surplus ends trimmed oif; and t FIGURE 7 is anelectrical diagram showing signal and control circuits which areassociated with, and form part of, the web splicing mechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a gear train diagram showing the one revolution clutch andmagnetic clutch.

, As is best seen in FIGURE 1, the illustrative machine comprises aframe plate 10 on which nearly all of the mechanism directly related tothe invention is carried. The frame plate supports two shafts 12 and 14which serve as mounts for reels 16 and '18, of cigarette paper. Asillustrated, the reel 16 supplies the fresh web 20 while the reel 14supplies the expiring web 22. The mounts 12 and 14 are fixed inposition, being located in proximity to one another. The webs 20 and 22are led respectively,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view illustratinga typical splice; and

over guide rods 24 and 26, and extend leftward together in juxtaposedrelation with the fresh web 20 being the lower web and the expiring web22 being the upper web.

The webs 20 and 22 pass below and above an anvil 23 which, as will .beexplained later, is used in cutting away the trailing end of theexpiring web immediately after the splice has been effected. Afterpassing the anvil 28 the web 22 continues straight through a pressuresplicing and trimming unit 30 to a feed couple 32, 34 which normallyruns at a constant speed to deliver the active web, in this case the Web22, to the cigarette making instrumental-ides of a cigarette makingmachine of the endless rod type.

The fresh lower web 20, however, after passing guide rod 36, is diverteddownward to pass through a feed couple 3%, 40. This couple comprises adriven roller 38 and an idler pressure roller 40, the latterroller beingnormally spring biased to press the web 20 against the roller 38 butbeing carried by a rockable arm 42 so that it can be separated from theroller 38 for easy threading.

The function of the feed couple 38, 40, is to start up the web 2!) froma state of rest and to accelerate it smoothly to the operating speed ofthe web 22. The roller 38 is normally idle, but it is adapted to bedriven through a commercial magnetic clutch 44 connected to feed couple34, 32 by belt 48 or if desired, roller 38 could be driven by a separateelectric motor.

A photo electric sensing device actuates a repeat cycle timer. Thistimer causes switches 154,155, 156 and 157 (shown in FIGURE 7), to closein a desired sequence and for a desired period of time. As soon as thetimer starts, switch 157 closes and energizes the magnetic clutch 44,thus transmitting power from the shaft of roller 34- to feed couple 38,40 and from 38, 40 to 128, through idler shaft 50. After approximatelytwo seconds, the time for the new web 20 to approximate the speedof theold web 22, the timer causes switch 156 to close thereby energizing asolenoid winding 56 (FIGURE 7) and tripping a one revolution clutchthrough which normally idle splicing sectors 62 and 64 are caused toturn through exactly one complete revolution at the speed of the webs. Acommercial one revolution clutch 60, as shown in FIG- URE 9, comprises adriving member (not shown) which is normally driven from the shaft ofthe roller 34 at the rotary speed of said shaft. The driving member isengageable by a normally idleclutch member (not shown) which is keyed onthe shaft 70 of the splicing sector 62. The shaft 70 is connected todrive the shaft 72 of the sector 64 in a one to one ratio throughgearing (not shown When the clutch member is engaged, the sector 62 onthe shaft 70 is caused to travel clockwise at a peripheral speed equalto or greater than the linear speed of thewebs 20 and 22, and thesector'64 on the shaft 72 is caused to travel counterclockwise at thesame peripheral speed.

The sector 62 has a smooth face, but the sector 64 has a knurled face.As the active surfaces of 62 and 64 .come opposite one another, theypress the webs forcibly together, causing a pressure splice to beeffected, as illustrated in the areas 78 of FIGURE 8. By a pressuresplice is meant, one in which no adhesive is used but the welding Qtogether of a multiplicity of minute areas of the two webs is effectedentirely by pressure. The pressure splice effected is a rolling pressuresplice because the web engaging surfaces of the sectors are rollingalong in engagement with the paper at the speed of the paper.

The action of the splicing and trimming unit is well illustrated inFIGURES 4, and 6, while details of structure are brought out moreclearly in FIGURES 2 and 3.

As seen in FIGURE 3, arms 80 and 82, carrying blades 84 and 86, arenormally held in engagement with the shafts 72 and 70, respectively, bytension coil springs 88. Both blades, in their normal positions, clearthe path of the expiring web 22 but the web 20 extends downward towardthe feed couple 38, 40 in proximity to the blade 84. As the sectors 62and 64 reach the condition illustrated in FIGURE 3, the blades 86 and 84are received in notches 90 and 92 of the sectors 62 and 64. The web 20becomes tautly stretched across the notch 92, being gripped at one sideof the notch by the sectors and wrapping around the opposite corner ofthe notch. As the sectors continue to turn, they strike forcibly againstthe blades 84 and 86, driving them backward to positions like those inwhich they are illustrated in FIGURE 6. The blade 84 is thus caused tosever the web 20 by rupturing the web, but the corresponding action ofthe blade 86 is without effect because both webs are disposed beyond itsfield of action. The leading end of the fresh web 20 which has been usedup in getting the web up to the speed of the web 22, is thus trimmed oftimmediately adjacent to the splice as the formation of the splicebegins.

Arms 94 and 96, pivoted at 98 and 100, carry knives 102 and 104 forselective cooperation with the anvil 28. The function of these knives isto trim away the trailing end of the expiring web. The arms 94 and 96ride on cams 106 and 108, which are fast on the shafts 70 and 72. Thearms are drawn toward one another and toward the cams by a tension coilspring 110 which extends between the arms. As will be seen in FIGURE 2,the arm 94 is free to swing downward when the hump of the cam 106 comesopposite the notch of the arm and in FIGURE 6 it will be seen that thearm has been swung down, causing the knife 102 in conjunction with theanvil 28 to trim away the trailing end of the expiring web.

The arm 96 is not free to operate as shown in FIGURE 2, because it isobstructed by a manual selector device 112. Each time that a splice isformed, one of the knives 102 or 104 should be free to act under camcontrol and the other should be restrained against operation. The arm 96is shown as restrained by the manual selector 112 in FIGURE 2 becauseoperation of the knife 104 would result in severance of the lower, freshweb, thereby undoing the benefit of the splice which is being formed.When the upper web is to be the fresh web the manual selector 112 is setin advance to obstruct the frame 94 and to leave the arm 96 free foroperation.

The manual selector may consist of a stationary guide bracket 114 and astop bar 116 which is slidable therein. The bar 116 includes a detainingarm and handle 118 which extends out through a slot 120 of the guidebracket 114. The handle 118 may be caught in a lower side extension ofthe slot 120 when it is desired to obstruct operation of the arm 96 andin an upper side extension of the same slot when it is desired toobstruct operation of the arm 94.

The feed couple 38, 40 can only be used for speeding up the fresh webwhen the fresh web is supported on the mount 12 and is the lower of thetwo Webs in their juxtaposed relation. When the expiring web is on themount 12, the fresh web reel is necessarily placed on the mount 14, andthe fresh web then becomes the upper web. In this situation the lower,expiring web extends straight through to the feed couple 32, 34 and theupper web is diverted upward after passing beneath guide rod 122. Theupper web is lead around a guide rod 124 and over a guide rod 126 to afeed couple 128, 130. The

4. feed couple 128, 130 is like the couple 38, 40, and is similarlyconstantly connected for driving through the magnetic clutch 44.

When the fresh web is trained as indicated by the broken line 22a, theblade 86 will be effective to trim off the leading end of the fresh weband the blade 84, though active as before, will be ineffective. As hasbeen indicated, the manual selector in this case would be set in advanceto suppress the action of the upper knife 102 and to leave the lowerknife 104 free to cut away the trailing end from the lower, expiringweb.

In FIGURE 7, details of the electrical means through which the spliceris controlled are shown diagrammatically. Switches 132 and 134 arecontrolled, respectively, from reels 16, and 18 by a photoelectricsystem being rendered active when a flag is removed from between thelight source and the photocell by the near expiration of the web of theassociated reel. At a predetermined point, near the expiration of areel, one of the flags falls and the photoelectric system causes one ofthe switches, say 132, to close momentarily. When switch 132 closes,holding circuit 136 closes provided switch 46 is closed to the A side.Switch 46 is a manual selector switch which the operator sets when heplaces a new reel of paper on the reel mounts. When circuit 136 closescapacitor 160 discharges, this charge being of a determined value andtime duration sufficient to cause circuit 152 to close and allow therepeat cycle timer to start. The first switch 154 on the timer closesthereby allowing the timer to continue through its cycle. Since circuit136 is closed and the capacitor 160 cannot build up another charge untilit is opened, circuit 152 will not be able to operate again until switch46 is opened. Opening of switch 46 causes holding circuit 136 to openand allows capacitor 160 to recharge. Switches 154, 155, 156 and 157 areoperated by cams on a shaft which is driven by the timer motor. Thisarrangement allows the switches to operate for the desired duration andsequence. As noted previously, switch 154 closes to keep the timeroperative through its cycle of one revolution. At the same time switch154 closes, switch 157 closes and energizes a magnetic clutch coupling44 which transfers power to feed couples 38, 40 and 128, 130. A resistorahead of .the clutch allows it to engage gradually. Switches 155 and 156are arranged in series so that the time both are closed will be verysmall. The cams on the timer are arranged in series so that the timeboth are closed will be very small. The cams on the timer are arrangedso switches 155 and 156 are both closed approximately 1% to 2 secondsafter switch 157 closes. When both 155 and 156 are closed they energizea solenoid 56 which releases the clutch, enabling it to make onerevolution, and they also energize holding circuit 148. When 148 isclosed it energizes a fifteen second thermal delay relay and after afifteen second interval the thermal relay causes a buzzer to becomeoperative.

The buzzer 140 alerts the operator at the catcher station to be on thelookout for two defective cigarettes which are, in part at least, doublewrapped because of the splice. When the two defective cigarettes havebeen removed, the catcher operator manually opens a switch 54 which isin series circuit with the buzzer 140. This stops the buzzer 140 andde-energizes winding 148. At this point all of the circuit elements havebeen returned to their original or normal conditions except that theactuator of switch 46 remains in an abnormal, inoperable condition. Withthe mounting of a fresh reel on the mount 14 in place of the used upreel 18 this disability is overcome.

When the fresh reel is placed on mount 14, the reel 16 will have had itsdiameter reduced quite substantially. At that time the web from thenewly placed reel is threadedthrough the splicing unit and the feedcouple 128, 130 and the manual selector 112 is reset to preventoperation of the arm 94 While freeing the arm 96 for operation under thecontrol of the cam 108.

While a certain preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that changesmay be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. Itis not, therefore, the intention to limit the patent to the specificconstruction illustrated, but to cover the invention broadly in whateverform its principles may be utilized.

What is claimed is:

1. A web splicing mechanism comprising, in combination, a pair of reelmounts, a first feeding means for feeding an expiring web from one mountat uniform operating speed, means operable on the leading end of thefresh web for pulling the fresh web from the other mount, comprising afeed couple, a normally idle drive mechanism therefor of limited torque,means driven in unison with the first feeding means for causing saiddrive mechanism, when a splice is to be made, to gain speed and toaccelerate the fresh web to approximately the speed of the expiring webagainst the inertial resistance of the fresh web reel, and a dead weightdirectly driven by said mechanism of sufficient mass to limit the rateof acceleration of the mechanism and thereby limit to a safe value thetension applied through the fresh web in overcoming the inertia of thefresh web reel, and means operable at the common speed of the webs, uponthe attainment of near sprrespondence of web speeds to effect a spliceby pressure one.

2. A web splicing and trimming mechanism for cigarette making machinesof the endless rod type comprising, in combination, a pair of fixed reelmounts disposed in proximity to one another, means feeding the expiringweb from one mount to the cigarette making instrumentalities at uniformoperating speed, means operable on the leading end of the fresh web forpulling the fresh web from the other mount up to approximately the speedof the expiring web, a pair of opposed, cooperative, normally idle,pressure splicing sectors between which the webs are threaded injuxtaposed relation, normally idle drive shafts upon which the splicingsegments are made fast, one revolution clutch means operable when nearcorrespondence of web speeds has been attained to cause the sectorcarrying shafts to turn the sectors through a single revolution at thespeed of the webs, thereby to effect a splice by pressure alone, andtrimming knives automatically responsive to operation of the onerevolution clutch means to trim away the leading end of the fresh web.and the trailing end of the expiring web.

3. A web splicing and trimming mechanism for cigarette making machinesof the endless rod type comprising, in combination, apair of fixed reelmounts disposed in proximity to one another, means feeding the expiringweb to the cigarette making instrumentalities at uni-form operatingspeed, means operable on the leading end of the fresh web for pullingthe fresh web up to approximately the speed of the expiring web, a pairof opposed, cooperative, normally idle, pressure splicing sectorsbetween which the webs are threaded in juxtaposed relation, normallyidle drive shafts upon which the splicing segments are made fast, onerevolution clutch means operable when near correspondence of web speedshas been attained to cause the sector carrying shafts to turn thesectors through a single revolution at the speed of the webs, thereby toeffect a splice by pressure alone, a trimming knife responsive torotation of one of the sector shafts to trim away the leading end of thefresh web, and a trimming knife responsive to rotation of the other ofthe sector shafts to trim away the trailing end of the expiring web.

4. A web splicing and trimming mechanism for cigarette making machinesof the endless rod type comprising, in combination, a pair of fixed reelmounts disposed in proximity to one another, means feeding the expiringweb to the cigarette making instrumentalities at uniform operatingspeed, means operable on the leading end of the fresh web for pullingthe fresh web up to approximately the speed of the expiring web, a pairof opposed,

cooperative, normally idle, pressure welding splicing sectors betweenwhich the webs are threaded in juxtaposed relation, normally idle driveshafts upon which the splicing segments are made fast, one revolutionclutch means operable when near correspondence of web speeds has beenattained to cause the sector carrying shafts to turn the sectors througha single revolution at the speed of the webs, thereby to effect a spliceby pressure alone, means automatically effective in response to the nearattainment of the expiring web speed by the fresh web to activate theclutch means, and trimming knives automatically responsive to operationof the one revolution clutch, means to trim away the leading end of thefresh web, and the trailing end of the expiring web.

5. A web splicing and trimming mechanism for cigarette making machinesof the endless rod type compris ing, in combination, a pair of fixedreel mounts disposed in proximity to one another, means feeding theexpiring web from a reel on either reel mount to the cigarette makinginstrumentalities at uniform operating speed, means alternativelyoperable on the leading end of the fresh web, according to the mountupon which the fresh web reel is supported, for pulling the fresh web upto approximately the speed of the expiring web, a pair of opposed,cooperative, normally idle, pressure splicing sectors between which thewebs are threaded in juxtaposed relation, normally idle drive shaftsupon which the splicin-g segments are made fast, one revolution clutchmeans automatically effective when near correspondence of web speeds hasbeen attained to cause the sector carrying,

shafts to turn the sectors through a single revolution at the speed ofthe webs, thereby to effect a pressure splice, a pair of trimming knivesautomatically responsive to operation of the one revolution clutch meansand alternatively eifective to trim away the leading end of the freshweb according to the reel mount from which the fresh web is drawn, apair of trimming knives, selectively responsive to the one revolutionclutch means to trim away the trailing end of the expiring web, and amanual selector settable to cause one of the other of said expiring webtrimming knives to be inoperable, according to the reel mount from whichthe expiring web is drawn.

6. A web splicing and trimming mechanism comprising, in combination, apair of fixed reel mounts disposed in proximity to one another, meansdirecting the webs from said mounts into superposed relation, meansfeeding the expiring web at uniform operating speed, alternative feedcouples disposed at opposite sides of the common web path andselectively operable on the leading end of the fresh web according towhether the upper or the lower web is the fresh web, for pulling thefresh web up to approximately the speed of the expiring web, a pair ofopposed, cooperative, normally idle, pressure splicing sectors betweenwhich the webs pass in juxtaposed relation, normally idle drive shaftsupon which the splicing sectors are made fast, one revolution clutchmeans operable when near correspondence of Web speeds has been attainedto cause the sector carrying shafts to turn the sectors through a singlerevolution at the speed of the webs, thereby to effect a pressuresplice, a pair of trimming blades automatically responsive to operationof the clutch means to trim away the leading end of the fresh web andthe trailing end of the expiring web, when the expiring web is the upperweb, and a pair of trimming blades automatically responsive to operationof the clutch means to trim away the leading end of the fresh web andthe trailing end of the expiring web, when the expiring web is the lowerweb.

7. A web splicing and trimming mechanism as set forth in claim 6 inwhich the alternative means for trimming away the trailing end of eitherthe upper or lower web includes a common stationary anvil disposed tolie between the webs just before they reach the pressure splicingmechanism, and coopertaive knives at opposite 7 sides of the webs, andwhich further includes a manual selector settable in advance to suppressoperation of one or the other of said knives.

8. A web splicing and trimming mechanism comprising, in combination, apair of fixed reel mounts disposed in proximity to one another, meansdirecting the webs from said mounts into superposed relation, meansfeeding the expiring web at uniform operating speed, alternative feedcouples disposed at opposite sides of the common web path andselectively operable on the leading end of the fresh web according towhether the upper or the lower web is the fresh web, for pulling thefresh web up to approximately the speed of the expiring web, a pair ofopposed, cooperative, normally idle, pressure splicing sectors betweenwhich the webs pass in juxtaposed relation, normally idle drive shaftsupon which the splicing segments are made fast, one revolution clutchmeans operable when near correspondence of web speeds has been attainedto cause the sector carrying shafts to turn the sectors through a singlerevolution at the speed of the webs, thereby to effect a pressuresplice, two trimming blades disposed above and below the webs,respectively, each automatically responsive to the clutch means toperform a predetermined sequence of movements each time References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,550,315 Hammer Aug.18, 1925 1,899,185 Di Ianni Feb. 28, 1933 2,001,113 Schaefer May 14,1935 2,035,682 Wikle Mar. 31, 1936 2,120,778 Dunlap June 14, 19382,596,189 Wieking May 13, 1952 2,613,042 Dice Oct. 7, 1952 2,745,464Auerbacher et a1. May 15, 1956 2,940,506 McKee et al June 14, 19602,963,235 Pedersen et a1. Dec. 6, 1960 2,998,205 Francik Aug. 29, 19613,030,043 Pinkham Apr. 17, 1962 3,035,787 Ota et a1. May 22, 1962

1. A WEB SPLICING MECHANISM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF REELMOUNTS, A FIRST-FEEDING MEANS FOR FEEDING AN EXPIRING WEB FROM ONE MOUNTAT UNIFORM OPERATING SPEED, MEANS OPERABLE ON THE LEADING END OF THEFRESH WEB FOR PULLING THE FRESH WEB FROM THE OTHER MOUNT, COMPRISING AFEED COUPLE, A NORMALLY IDLE DRIVE MECHANISM THEREFOR OF LIMITED TORQUE,MEANS DRIVBEN IN UNISON WITH THE FIRST FEEDING MEANS FOR CAUSING SAIDDRIVE MECHANISM, WHEN A SPLICE IS TO BE MADE, TO GAIN SPEED AND TOACCELAERATE THE FRESH WEB TO APPROXIAMTELY THE SPEED OF THE EXPIRING WEBAGAINST THE INERTIAL RESISTANCE OF TJE FRESH WEB REEL, AND A DEAD WEIGHTDIECTLY DRIVEN BY SAID MECHANISM OF SUFFICIENT MASS TO LIMIT THE RATE OFACCELERATION OF THE MECHANISM AND THEREBY LIMIT TO A SAFE VALUE THETENSION APPLIED THROUGH THE FRESH WEB IN OVERCOMING THE INERTIA OF THEFRESH WEB REEL, AND MEANS OPERABLE AT THE COMMON SPEED OF THE WEBS, UPONTHE ATTAINMENT OF NEAR CORRESPONDENCE OF WEB SPEEDS TO EFFECT A SPLICEBY PRESSURE ALONE.